Coming through the rye - we hope

Before

The rainy season has started again so we have planted winter rye in the alpaca pasture. These pictures shows what the pasture looked like when the alapcas arrived and after.

After

GIRO - Gabriola Island Recycling Organiztion

 GIRO is one of the social centres for the island. If you want to meet friends and neighbors go to the GIRO on Wednesday or Saturday and they will be there. Not only that they have a wide range of used, slightly used and sometimes brand new stuff. People bring in the oddest things that they brought to Gabriola but find they don't need, clothes that no longer fit in or fit. Many of the costumes for our plays start here even if its just sheets used to make the trial sloppers,  Every year there is a fashion show based on clothes from GIRO. Plumbing, computers, bubble wrap, cutlery, crockery, books - the list  goes on. Its also where we recycle plastics, bottles, cardboard etc.You  gotta love the GIRO.

Larry Pinkus's Bench at Drumbeg

When we came to Gabriola 6 years ago we thought it would be a good idea to sponsor a bench at Drumbeg Park dedicated to Tessa's father. He always wanted to live on the west coast but never made it. We wish they had put the plaque on the back of the bench not the leg and it has attracted some graffiti.

I just think its a great place to sit and contemplate the world surrounded by some of Gabriola's best views - all seen in these three pictures.

Horseshoe Bay Village

Coming home from Vancouver its always good to go for a walk in Horseshoe Bay village. The new pedestrian walkway over the roadway seems overkill and it really does mean you had better take your ticket with you - the return is through the main entrance for all passengers. The ferry in the picture is the Bowen Queen the replacement ferry when the Quinsam is out of service.

A Vancouver Celebration.

A weekend in Vancouver with Claire, Michael and Tessa (and Todd). Two great dinners, a wonderful visit to the aquarium and lots of walk and talk. I must be getting used to big cities because Vancouver doesn't seem as stressful as it used to be. I have two realities - Gabriola and Vancouver, perhaps even Nanaimo but that's it.

Waiting for the Ferry

What do people do in that wonderful period of grace known as "waiting for the ferry". Some read, some sleep and some go have a snack at the pub (and some take pictures). Either way its an essential part of Gabriola life and a good way to prepare for a return to the "madding crowd" of nanaimo.

Yucca Plant (Yucca filamentosa) - seed pod

We have had Yucca plants for 6 years. They flower profusely but this is the first time we have seen a seed pod. Perhaps since they spread like wildfire they haven't seen the need to seed.

The Owl woke that woke us up this morning

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

I heard two screeches and though it could be the alpacas (who do make some very weird noises) but on the third I looked out of the window. The owl was at least 20 inches high with 40-60 inch wing span. It was very poor light so all of the shots were f2.8 at 1/320s. First shot was the 100mm lens that happened to be on the camera, the rest are the 300mm. The owl was very polite and waited for me to change lenses. He knew I was there - in the laundry by the clearest window and only flew off after about 10 minutes. Then we went back to sleep.

3 nights camping at Horne Lake

A really nice spot to camp. Its west and north of Qualicum, 30 minutes down a gravel road from the main highway. Not too many people at this time of year and the weather was spectacular. Its best not to swim in the lake as you can get swimmers itch but that may reduce the number of small kids who camp there. We went for one longish walk and a few short ones. Not a lot to do but chill out, read a book eat and sleep. The more adventurous can visit the Horne Lake caves.  We are going car camping more often much less stress than kayak camping.

http://www.hornelake.com/caving_programs.htm

Michael and Lawrence's grand attempt to make pickles

I have never made pickles before but we had so many cucumbers that we decided to try. We will try them next time Michael comes to Gabriola. They look pretty good and are the right sort of color. Hopefully they taste really good.

The food had better be good

Red Fish, Blue Fish is supposed to have the best fish and chips in Victoria. The line-up seems never to be shorter than 20 people. It took us 1 hour to get from here to our food. Was it worth it, well yes the fish and chips was good but that was a very loong wait. We felt like the stupidist people in town when we were at the end of the line but felt better when people came in behind. Everyone was saying the wait was worth it and after 10 minutes we couldn't bring ourselves to find another restaurant.

Victoria Classic Boat Show

Went to Victoria for the wooden boat show. SBBS had a booth with 3 boats and a great model boat on display. An amazing number of people who truly and compulsively love wooden boats. One woman talked to us for ages about dories and then it turned out she lived at Silva Bay in 1943 and remembers the Silva's and the Japanese steam baths where Pages is now. Also the son of one of the original owners of U&I, the school mascot boat. He couldn't believe he was seeing his Dad's Old Boat. Many of the owners are as old or older than their 80 year old boats especially the guys on The Master - the last steam tug (http://www.granvilleisland.com/event/ss-master-steam-tug) whose loud steam whistle was always answered by many smaller toots from around the harbor. Who knew that steam boats have attached espresso machines.